Blood Ward

Chapter 17

When I woke the next morning, Ipulled away from Reif's strong arms and stretched. I left himquietly, knowing it was still early. I snuck from the tent andcrossed camp. Stefan and Beri were already up. I saw the look ofsurprise on his face when he saw me coming from Reif's tent. Istopped and we exchanged a look. I broke first, clearing my throatand walking over to Beriima. "What are we looking at?" Iasked her.

She glanced between me and Stefanthen said, "If we push the mounts, we can get back to the riverin a few weeks and across and to the capital in a month."

"Good," I nodded. "Weneed all the time we can get to beat the vampires to the capital."

"It is doable commander,"Beri agreed.

"Let's start pulling upcamp. Get everyone else up..." I stood back up.

We went to work waking everyoneand getting underway. Keeping a hard pace, using all the daylight wehad each day, we reached the river and secured passage on a shipwithin a week and a half. The animals were exhausted and so were we.As soon as we set sail I found a place on the deck and sat down. Ibreathed in the fresh air and sighed. We hadn't had much time forprivacy or to simply relax since we'd set out. When I felt someoneapproach I didn't budge, letting Anders settle down beside me. Hesighed. "So I noticed you have left the bed of our Stefan infavor of the vampire."

"I just couldn't have himquestioning my every move. We need to act quickly and if I need toput myself in danger I can't have him throwing himself in the way ofmy sword," I explained.

"So you opted for Reif'scompany?" he hinted.

"What? Company?... What areyou implying?" I asked.

He shrugged. "It just seemsfrom your closeness that you... Well it is the logical..."

I laughed. It felt strange. Ihadn't laughed in what felt like ages. "You're jealous..."I said.

"I am not!" he saidhuffing, which made me laugh harder. I saw a smile reluctantly spreadacross his face. "It is good to see you smiling, my littlewarrior. Sadness does not suit you. It's been too long."

"Well if it makes you feelbetter, I'm not sleeping with Reif." I put my hand on top of hiswhich rested on his knee. "His presence is soothing, but that isall."

Anders' smile grew wider and hishand clasped mine. "Do you see what you do to me littlewarrior... It is not very becoming."

I smiled back. "Am I thatirresistible?"

"You turn the heads of allthat you meet... Men and women alike..." he insisted.

"Flatterer..."

"It is only flattery if itis untrue," he pointed out. "And may I say that Stefan isan idiot."

"Why is that?" I asked,still smiling.

"Because he let you go..."

I sighed. "It was hischoice. I loved him for so long and it took some time to realize thathe did not love me... He loved what he thought I should be. I was theidiot Anders... All this time, I clung to false love when... I thinkreal love was staring me in the face." I looked over at him andit took a moment for my words to register, then surprise lit up hisfeatures.

"Surely you don't mean me,little warrior," he teased.

"That is up to you," Ismiled.

"Do not tease me, Ana... Idon't think I could take it." Before he could say more, I leanedover and pressed my lips to his.

He was surprised again, butquickly fell into the kiss. His hand came up, gently brushing mycheek and his fingers slipped into my hair, undoing the knot andletting it fall down past my waist. His fingers played in my hair andI allowed myself to get lost in him. He tasted like fresh rain mixedwith the ale I knew he kept hidden in his robes. A secret he onlyshared with me. I slid closer, pulling myself onto his lap,straddling his legs. Before I could go further, someone cleared theirthroat and I remembered where I was. I pulled away and Anders' handsdropped sullenly to my hips as he sighed heavily.